LONDON: The United Kingdom’s government found itself in a diplomatic quandary on Sunday following the release of a covert video where Rwanda’s high commissioner in London, Johnston Busingye, openly criticized the UK’s historical human rights abuses and condemned the hardline stance of its interior minister regarding migration issues.
In the footage released by campaign group Led By Donkeys, Busingye, a former Rwandan justice minister and current top diplomat in Britain, expressed his strong disagreement with the UK’s historic human rights record and criticized the interior minister’s approach to migration. He questioned the morality of the UK positioning itself as a refuge for migrants, citing the country’s imperial history, including slavery and colonization.
The UK government has entered into an “asylum partnership arrangement” with Rwanda, intending to resettle migrants who regularly arrive in southeast England on small boats from northern France to Rwanda. This plan has faced widespread criticism from human rights organizations and is currently subject to a legal challenge in UK courts.
Rwanda’s Diplomat Openly Disagrees with UK PM
Busingye openly disagreed with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Interior Minister Suella Braverman, stating they were “absolutely wrong” in their stance on migrants. He argued for the importance of providing migrants with alternatives to risking their lives to reach the UK, emphasizing the desperation and lack of hope that drives people to take such risks.
The diplomat also casually dismissed concerns about the previous killing of refugees in Rwanda, a statement that further intensified the controversy surrounding the partnership.
In response to the covert video, the Rwandan government acknowledged its existence but pointed out “several factual inaccuracies” in the footage. The government reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to treating every person equally and stated that the country provides sanctuary and opportunity to those seeking it.
The UK government stood firm in its defense of the Rwanda partnership, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to curb illegal migration and dismantle human smuggling networks.
